Adjustable dress-form.



C. W. FARQUHARSON. .ADJUSTABLE DRESS FORM.

- APPLICATION FILED 050.13. 1913.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED 050.13.1913.

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CHARLES W. FABQUHARS PN, 0F CHIGAGQ, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MODEL FORM COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE nnnssnonm;

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 13, 1913. Serial No. 806,358.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHAnLns 'W. FAR- UnAnsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Dress-Forms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adjustable-dress forms and has to. do more particularly with forms of that character wherein a plurality of independently operable adjacently connected sections are provided and wherein these different sectionsmay be moved or ad- JIIStQd lZO many positions so that the device may be made to conform to the desired shape. Hitherto in forms of the above character, it has been necessary forthe operator to reach inside the body of the form through the arm holes,- and loosen certain clamping nuts so that the connecting elements between the sections would be freed so as. to permit movement of the sections into their desired positions. After adjusting the sections of the form to their desired shape it was necessary that the operator again reach inside the form and tighten the clamping devices so as to hold the sections in position, otherwise they would notremain where placed when the form was used. It is evident that such manipulation and adjustment requires considerable time and one of the principal objects of my invention is to obviate any necessary operation of the clamping elements of the connecting devices when the form is adjusted. To this end I have'provided a dress form body divided into a plurality of independently operable sections having frictional or :yielding devices for connecting the adjacent sections and sc eenstructed that although ordinarily these devices need not be touched when the form sections are adjusted, still if desired the connecting devices may be adjusted so that'.the

form is locked. Otherfeatures will be more particularly pointed out in the ensuing specification and claims. I

An illustrative'embodiinent of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawinge, inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment fitting; form constructed according to this kilnvention showing the sections thereof close Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with certain sections thereofadjusted so as to enlarge a portion of the form;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the left half of the form showing a possible adjustment of the sections between the shoulder and waist; c

Fig, 4 is abottom viewof the form;

F ig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line1A-A of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the line B,-Bof Fig.2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of theconnections of the sections at the neck which also serve as an adjustable upper support for the form;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail'of the same taken on the line C, C of Fig. 7

Fig. 9' is an enlarged fragmentary detail illustrating the method of connecting the vertical lines extending from each of the "shoulders-to the hips, and extending on up through the neck of the form, and two other vertical lines extending from the shoulders to the hips at the'front and back, each located'. about midway between the side cuts and the center line of the form. There is also a vertical centrally located cut extending to the top ofthe neck from the upper cross cut at the front, and from the waist line out at the back. The form is also cut on two horizontally disposed lines, one 10- cated slightly above the narrowest part of the waist, and the second extending sub stantially parallel to the first about midway Patented Apr.3,il9t*7.

between it and the-upper part of the form,

except that it curves downwardly .under the arms and terminates in the back at the vertical cuts passing over the-shoulders.

There are thus formed thirteen sections above the waist, which are respectively numbered from 1 to 13, and six sections below the waist which are respectively numbered from 14 to 19. These sections or parts are connected together by mechanism, which will hereinafter be set forth, and supported at the top and bottom on a standard 20 of any independently shifted to enlarge any part of the form and remain in theposition to which they are shifted. To this end I provide connections for these sections comprising pref- 4 erably a plurality of connecting members F in the form of pairs of links 22, 23, which are pivotally connected together at 24 and connected at their other ends to adjacent sections of the form by'means of bolts 25 and winged nuts 26, having resilient or yielding members in the form of spring washers 126 between the nut and blade, as shown in Fig. 11. The'pivotal connection 24 of the links is such as will provide sufiicient friction to hold the links, and consequently the sections,

in the relative positions-to which they are shifted, this also being true of clamping portions. The frictional engagement of the links with their respective sections may be controlled by tightening or loosening the winged nuts 26 and thereby supplementing the friction created by the pivotal connection of the links themselves. By varying the adjustment of the nuts 26, the yielding-function of the connecting members F is changed. That is by adjusting the nut 26- so that there is slight spring action of the washer 126 against the links 22 or 23 the sections may beeasily adjusted to different positions where they remain. By adjusting the nut 26 so that there is more spring action of the washer 126, the parts are still readily adjustable, remaining where placed without requiring any further adjustment of the nuts 26. But should it be desired that the form be positively locked against movement, the nuts 26 may be adjusted until the connecting members F are rigidly held and thereby prevent ready movement of the sections.

e sections 14 to 19 below the waist are each provided with a transversely disposed part 27, at their, lower ends and these parts are preferably connected together by devices F and the parts 27, which are connected to the sections 15 and 18, are supported on a plate 28. The plate 28 is secured to the rod 29 of thestandard by a set screw 30, and is provided with slots 31 in which the bolts 32, on the parts 27, are received, said bolts being provided with the usual winged nuts 33 for securing the parts to the plate and spring washers between the nuts and plate. The connection of the sections 15 and 18 lo the plate 28 constitutes the lower support for the form.

The connection at the upper ends of the sections 1, 2, 10 and 11, which form the neck, comprises a pair of plates 34 and 35 which are stamped to form therein the respective pairs of parallel channels 36 and 37 located at opposite sides of the center of said plates. The plates are secured together by means of lugs 38 with the pairs of channels of one plate disposed'at right angles to those of the other plate. Bars or slides 39 are slidably mounted in the channels and are respectively connected at their outer ends to the sections 1, 2, 10 and 11, each of said slides being provided with a depending part 40 (Fig. 1),

by which the respective slide is secured to its section. On the opposite ends of each of the slides 39 is formed a shoulder 41 which abuts against the shoulder 42 formed by the unembossed part of-the plates 34 and 35. The abutting of these shoulders prevents the complete withdrawal of the slides 39 from the channels. The plates rest upon a washer 43 which is held in position on the rod 29 by the nut 44, and a clamping member 45,-

in the form of a handle, is screwed on to the rod 29 for clamping the slides 39 between the plates 34 and 35.

If desired, the rod 29 maybe supported in a tubular extension 46, of the standard 20, and have a compression spring 47 interposed between the extension and the bottom of the form, whereby the form may be conveniently adjusted as to height, since the spring carries the weight of the'form and urges it to its highest position. A set screw 48 is provided for locking the rod to the tubular extension 46, when it is pushed down to the desired position.

In operation the form is capable of all of the adjustments which are obtainable in any form heretofore made, and in addition is capable of certain otheradjustments which cannot be made in said other forms. Then it is desired to alter theshape of the form, the sections are shifted to the positions that -will produce the desired shape, in which positions the sections will remain by virtue of the frictional connections F. Afterthe adjustment has been completed the winged nuts 26 may be firmly screwed down so as to positively secure the sections against displacement during the working on the form, but I have found that this is not always necessary. This form may be used in the same manner as other forms, one of the principal methods being to place on the form a lining or garment which has been previously fitted-to the person for whom a gown is to 'be made and adjusting the sections until the form properly fills out the lining. Some of the several possible adjustment of the form will now be set forth. As

shown in Fig. 2, the sections 1, 3, 10 and 12, and 2, 4, 11, and 13 may be shifted apart for increasing the distance from shoulder to of the' sections are shifted theyieldingly holding action of the devices F connecting such sections is suflicient to overcome the tendency of the connection betWeen'a-ny of the adjacent parts, which are not shifted, to assume their normal positions. An instance of this is found in the adjustment which has just been described, wherein the frictional resistance of the links connecting the shoul-' der sections is great enough so as not to be affected by the tendency of the connection at the neck to urge the sections. together. As

shown in Fig. 3, another important adjust-- ment which may be obtained with this form is enlarging the part directly under the arm without broadening the shoulders or the hips, which is accomplished by simply pushmg out sections 5 and 8. The sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 may be relatively adjusted for enlarging the bust without affecting the size of the neck, the waist, or the'back. By virtue of the link connections of the hip sections it is possible to increase the distance across the hips without increasing the size in a transverse direction, and vice versa. It is also possible with this form to enlarge the neck or any portion thereof, without increasing the size of any other part of the form. To enlarge the neck it is only necessary to unscrew the-clamp 4.5 so as to allow the bars 39 free movement in their respectivc channels to permit the sections to be pulled apart the desired distance where they may be secured in the extended position by screwing down the clamp 45. Adjustment as to waist length can be made by releasing the .set screw 30 and separating the upper and lower sections at the waist line of the form. It is also possible to enlarge any part of the form to make it conform to a de-' formity. For example, the adjustment of one side is indepcndent'of the adjustment of the other side, and the shoulder sections may be adjusted horizontally or vertically.

Although I have shown and described a dress form with certaincuts and a particular type of connective device, it is to be understood that this is only for the purpose of illustration, and it will be apparent that many changes and modifications will readily suggest themselves, and therefore I do not desire to be limited to the exact structure as shown and described but aim to cover all section to an'adjacent one so as to normally permit independent adjustment of each section, and means automatically acting upon the connecting devices during manipulation of the sections for maintaining the sections in adjustment.

2. A dress form comprising a molded body portion normally of natural contour and horizontally and vertically cut into a plurality of sections, connecting devices connecting adjacent ones of said sections whereby each section is independently adjustable, and resilient means yieldingly holding the connecting devices for firmly holding the sections when moved to desired positions.

- 3. A dress form comprising a body portion cut into a plurality of sections, yieldingly adjustable connecting devices connecting each section to an adjacent one so as to permit a normal independent adjustment of each section, means whereby each section may be grasped by the operator to effect such adjustment, and resilient; means adjustable for varying the yielding function of the connecting devices so as to cause a greater or less holding effect thereof.

4. A dress form comprising a molded body'portionnormally of natural contour,

by the operator to effect adjustment, and

friction elements at joints of said connecting devices whereby the sections are normally yieldingly but firmly held so as to normally permit an independent adjustment thereof.

5. A dress form comprising a molded upper body portion normally of natural contour and horizontally and vertically cut to provide a plurality of sections, and inde-' pendently operable spring pressed yield ingly held adjustable devices connecting each section to two other sections whereby each section is normally independently adj ustable'to vary the contour of the form and firmly held in adjusted position. v

'6. A dress form comprising a molded upper body portion normally of natural contour and horizontally and vertically cut to provide a plurality of sections, adjust able connecting devices each pivotally secured at each end so as to connect each sectlOIl to two other. sectlons whereby each able horizontally'and Vertically to vary the.

section is normally independently adjusttion normally of natural contour and cut to provide neck,-intermediate and hip sections, adjustable connecting devices secured at each end and connecting the intermediate sections to each other and to the neck and hip sections, means whereby each section may be grasped by the operator to effect adjustment, and resilient means for yieldingly holding the connecting devices to permit a normal independent adjustment of the C. W. FARQUHARSON. WVitnesses:

MIonAEL Lonny, GEORGE E. MUELLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

